Peers Vote Gabriel Top Exec

The General Manager Of The Orlando Magic Used A Bold Rebuilding Strategy To Put His Team In Free-agent Contention.

May 15, 2000|By Brian Schmitz of The Sentinel Staff

What could be better than Orlando Magic General Manager John Gabriel being named NBA Executive of the Year on Sunday?

A repeat.

If Gabriel wins the award again next year, it would mean he had signed one -- or two -- of the available prize free agents this summer, likely restoring the franchise's past glory and making the Magic a contender again.

Gabriel was honored on Sunday in a ballot of NBA executives conducted by The Sporting News. He finished with eight votes, beating Toronto Raptors Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald by two votes.

Jerry West, the Los Angeles Lakers' executive vice president of basketball operations, and Portland Trail Blazers President Bob Whitsitt tied for third, each with five votes.

Sports Illustrated named Gabriel its top NBA executive earlier this month.

"Our staff, led by the [Rich] DeVos family ownership, put us in a great position for today and in the future," said Gabriel, adding that the work ethic by players and coaches "made us all look good."

Gabriel, 44, engineered a daring overhaul after the Magic's first-round playoff ouster against the Philadelphia 76ers, trading four starters, including Penny Hardaway.

Although stripping the club sent curious rumblings and doomsday whispers throughout the league -- especially after Orlando tied the Miami Heat for the Atlanta Division title last season -- many of Gabriel's peers ended up saluting his personnel decisions. NBA teams predicting little, if any, dramatic progress now are studying the Magic's bold rebuilding blueprint.

Gabriel signed hungry, young players, many of whom had only one year left on their contracts, providing the Magic salary-cap room for the free-agent derby this summer. Gabriel continued gambling, hiring a rookie head coach. But Doc Rivers won the NBA Coach of the Year award, and the Magic exceeded most expectations, finishing 41-41 and barely missed the postseason.

Through some trades and shrewd maneuvering, Gabriel has freed up as much as $18 million under the salary cap for Orlando to compete for free-agent superstars Tim Duncan of San Antonio and Grant Hill of Detroit. Free agents cannot sign contracts until Aug. 1, but the Magic can begin negotiations with them July 1.

Gabriel made 37 player transactions involving 38 different players, enabling the Magic to stockpile nine first-round draft selections over the next five years, including three lottery picks in the NBA draft on June 28.